Crawford dominates Spence with 9th-round TKO to become undisputed champ

Terence Crawford made history during a dominating performance, dismantling Errol Spence Jr. by ninth-round TKO after referee stoppage to become the undisputed welterweight champion on Saturday.

"Bud" knocked down Spence for the first time of his career in the second round. He then put his opponent on the canvas two more times before the fight was eventually stopped.

Spence started strong with an effective jab in the first round before the tables turned in the second. Crawford picked apart Spence throughout the remainder of the fight with terrific counter-punching and landed a number of stiff power jabs, hard hooks, and damaging uppercuts.

Spence attempted to turn things around by going to the body but struggled to establish any sort of real attack. Crawford continued to pound away at his opponent en route to one of the most devastating victories in boxing history.

Crawford becomes the first male fighter to become the undisputed champion in two weight divisions, joining Claressa Shields as the only people to accomplish the feat.

Following the fight, Crawford said he believes he "made everybody a believer" that he's the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, even the people who doubted him from the start.

“It means everything because of who I took the belts from," he said when asked what becoming the undisputed champion in two weight classes means to him.

"They talked bad about me. I kept my head to the sky. Tonight, I showed how great I am."

Crawford said he'd accept a rematch from Spence if his rival decided to invoke the clause in their contract for another fight. Spence said he would do so but hopes for the fight to be at 154 pounds.

With the victory, Crawford remains undefeated, pushing his record to 40-0 with 31 knockouts. Spence's record dropped to 28-1 following the first loss of his professional career.